Savage Words: I wish we could all start singing together

I was caught off guard at Friday’s football game between the Lynx and Mitchell.

I’ve never seen, or heard, anything quite like it.

I’m truly a creature of habit when it comes to covering sporting events. I usually stand in the same place at certain points of a football game. For basketball games, I sit in the same place in the first and second quarters. I usually head to a second spot in the third quarter, and a final position for the fourth.

I’m not sure why that is, but for the past seven years of covering Brandon Valley football games, I usually stand near the endzone during the National Anthem.

For whatever reason, my timing was off on Friday and I was putting my bag on the running track at the bottom of the grandstands when the announcement came that the BV Marching Band was about to begin the Anthem.

I was stuck, and couldn’t get to the endzone in time.

So I stayed for the Anthem, directly behind the team, and right in front of the capacity crowd that had gathered to watch.

As the band began the Anthem, an instant lump formed in my throat from what I heard behind me. Not everyone, but a good chunk of the crowd was singing.

Singing loudly, all reciting the words to The Star-Spangled Banner.

As the trumpets continued to pierce the air on the field, a large group of people sang along. To be honest, I was bewildered for a second, and thought perhaps a BV choir was in the crowd as part of the pre-game ceremonies.

I had to find out, so I took a chance. Obviously, the protocol is to hold your hand over your heart and face the flag at attention.

But I veered from that protocol, took a couple of steps onto the track, and looked back at the grandstand. I had to find out.

There was no BV choir. There was no orchestrated pre-game singing. It was adults, and students, from the north end of the grandstands, all the way to the south … singing, together.

After having a quick glance, I slowly made my way back to where I originally stood, directly at the foot of the grandstands. 

Brandon Valley head coach Matt Christensen told me later that he, too, sings during the Anthem.

“I notice it,” he said about hearing the Anthem as he stands with his team on the sidelines. “I like it. It’s a cool effect.”

Over the years when I stood in the endzone, I recall the late Scotty McGee, who belted out the Anthem. That one, I heard. For sure a lot of the credit for the crowd participation goes to Public Address announcer Bob Logan, who encourages everyone to “sing loud and proud.” Honestly, I thought over the years that announcement was directed at Scotty. I was wrong, it was for everyone. 

The thing that caught me the most off guard on Friday is that I’ve covered a lot of football games in my 30-plus year career. A lot. There’s been high school, college, and professional games I’ve reported on, and I truly don’t remember that much participation – if any – from the crowd.

As the Anthem was coming to a close on Friday, I couldn’t help but think that gathered behind me was a collection of Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, Liberals, and everything in between. 

And there they were, all singing together. All singing The Star Spangled Banner, in reverence to a country they love.

When it was over, I promised myself that I would also begin singing the Anthem at sporting events, albeit with the poorest singing voice you’ve known.

It’s the least I can do.

All of us singing together may not heal the brokenness that overwhelms our country at the moment, but I know it certainly can’t hurt.

Here’s to hoping that we can soon put our stupid differences aside, and start singing together again.